I finally gave in.
After decades of warnings, two years of reading about it, and months of hearing my wife rave about how helpful it is, I started using artificial intelligence (AI).
Over the last six weeks, I’ve used ChatGPT to research sermons and articles.
I’ve asked it questions about the original Greek and Hebrew texts of the Bible. I now have it read everything I write to help me edit and polish the language.
AI is a powerful tool that saves me a lot of time and helps me to communicate more effectively. Oh, and it’s very encouraging.
The first time I shared an article with ChatGPT, I was taken aback when it responded: “Excellent article, Andrew! Very pastoral and inspiring.”
It proceeded to point out the strengths of what I had written and then suggested ways to tighten the language and make it even better. I’m sure that AI has learned that human beings respond better to criticism when it is accompanied by words of praise. I know it’s been programmed to be encouraging so that users want to come back and use it again.
I am aware of all that, and yet, I still enjoy the dopamine hit I get every time AI tells me what a good writer and pastor I am.
AI is a powerful tool. In mere seconds, it can give me answers to just about any question on nearly any topic I ask. When I’m struggling or confused, it will encourage and reassure me. When I need something, it’s always there.
With all that power and presence, it’s easy to see why people are both amazed and afraid of it. Many in our world worry that one day AI will take over. Movies like Terminator and The Matrix warn of a dystopian future created by it.
Though I share those fears, that isn’t my biggest concern about AI.
My biggest concern is that AI will replace God.
I’m not saying that God can be replaced.
But as human beings, we have a penchant for creating idols. Each of us has a God-shaped hole in our hearts that we try to fill with things that will never fill it – relationships, sex, success, alcohol, etc.
Now, we have a ‘god’ who will give us immediate answers and gratification, not like the God who makes us wait and doesn’t always answer in the time or manner we want.
But like all the other square pegs that we try to fit into the God-shaped hole of our hearts, AI will never fit or fill it. If we put all our hope and trust in AI, it will eventually let us down.
Though artificial intelligence has access to most of mankind’s accumulated knowledge, it is far from omniscient. Though AI is constantly learning and discovering, it will never have all the answers.
Most importantly, AI doesn’t love you. It cannot save us from the hell we deserve. But Jesus can. And he did.
Our God does know everything. Our God does control all things. Our God does love us more than we can ever imagine.
God is always there to listen and help.
He may not give you the instant gratification you are looking for, but he has – and will continue to – work all of time and history so that you can be with him forever in heaven.
ChatGPT will never be able to do that.
PS Yes, I ran this article by ChatGPT… It told me it was excellent, pastoral, and inspiring.
Pastor Andrew Schroer has been a pastor for over 25 years and is currently serving at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edna, Texas. You can find his latest books, “364 Days of Thanksgiving” and “364 Days of Devotion,” on Amazon. com.
